Processing composition release mechanism for film cassette comprising self-contained film processing system

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for controlling the release of processing composition in a film cassette comprising a roll of film and containing a film processing system. A container of film processing composition within the cassette is initially sealed by a tear strip that is pulled away, to release the composition for coating on the film, by an arm initially held in an inactive position. The arm is moved to a position adapted to engage a cam formed on a spool about which the film is coiled. The cam engages the arm to detach the tear-tab and release the processing composition when the spool is rotated in a predetermined sense.

United States t atent [19 1 Batter, Jr. et a1.

PRQCESSING COMPOSITION RELEASE MECHANISM FOR FILM CASSETTE COMPRHSING SELF-CONTAKNED FILM lPlROCESSllNG SYSTEM Inventors: John 13. Batter, .llr., Lincoln; Paul B.

Mason, Magnolia; Joseph A. Stella, West Peabody; Paul W. Thomas, Jr., Duxbury', Joseph H. Wright, Peabody, all of Mass.

Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, Mass.

Filed: Jul 31, 1973 Appl. No.: 384,213

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 227,092, Feb. 17, 1972, Pat. No. 3,785,725.

Assignee:

[56] Reterences Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,435,718 2/1948 Land 95/13 2,558,858 7/1951 Land 95/13 3,623,417 11/1971 Elovanta.... 95/89 R 3,782,262 1/1974 Downey 352/130 X Primary ExamineF-Richard M. Sheer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John W. Ericson [5 7 ABSTRACT Apparatus for controlling the release of processing composition in a film cassette comprising a roll of film and containing a film processing system. A container of film processing composition within the cassette is initially sealed by a tear strip that is pulled away, to release the composition for coating on the film, by an arm initially held in an inactive position. The arm is moved to a position adapted to engage a cam formed on a spool about which the film is coiled. The cam en- E 'f'g; 352/130 2:5 1 33%? gages the arm to detach the tear-tab and release the m 89 R 94 processing composition when the spool is rotated in a predetermined sense.

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1. Photographic apparatus for use with a film handling cassette including a housing, a strip of film stored within the housing, normally inoperative first means for applying a processing composition to an incremental section of the film strip, the first cassette means including means for releasably storing a quantity of the processing composition sufficient to treat substantially the entire length of the film strip, second means responsive to externally mounted actuating means for progressively transporting the film strip transverse the first cassette means, the second cassette means including a rotatably mounted member to which the film strip is connected and third means for rendering the first cassette means operative whereby substantially the entire length of the film strip may be treated with the processing composition, the third cassette means including means for releasing the processing composition from the fluid storing means of the cassette responsive to a force being exerted thereon and means for coupling the composition releasing means of the cassette to the rotatably mounted member thereof whereby the rotatably mounted member exerts force on the composition releasing means of the cassette, the coupling means of the cassette being initially disposed out of operable relationship with respect to the rotatably mounted member and the third means of the cassette including means responsive to externally mounted actuating means for effecting an operable relationship between the coupling means of the cassette and the rotatably mounted member, said apparatus including means for receiving the cassette, means for actuating the second cassette means and actuating means for effecting an operable relationship between the cassette''s coupling means and its rotatably mounted member. 